Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 147: That was clearly a woman

Han Xin sat there, his shoulders slumped and his eyes hollow, while Han Zhan laughed, oblivious to the gravity of the situation. He honestly thought that his cousin was joking. It was only when Han Xin’s glare cut through the room that Han Zhan realised this was no joke. The person disguised as Princess Xiu all this time was really the Crown Prince of Zhen, Xiang Yu.

"How is that possible?" Han Zhan stammered disbelief etched across his face. "That was clearly a woman. Her frame, her voice... how could it have been a man?"

Han Xin’s silence was heavy, his eyes dark with a mix of anger and sorrow. Han Zhan pressed on, unable to comprehend. "But you two kissed. Didn’t you feel it?... Didn’t you touch her," he said cupping his hands on his chest to demonstrate what he meant. "I thought you two did the deed in the cave."

"Shut up," Han Xin snapped, his voice low and dangerous. Han Zhan fell silent, the weight of the revelation sinking in.

After a long pause, he asked, "So what is his plan? Why did he do all this?... Does he want to go to war? And how on earth did he even sneak an entire army into Yige without being noticed?" Question after question but Han Xin didn’t have an answer for it.

He rubbed his upper lip, lost in thought. "He said before that he wanted peace between the two countries. Hopefully, he didn’t lie about that too."

Han Zhan nodded, the tension in the room palpable. He left briefly and returned with a jar of wine. "I robbed this from your mother’s secret stash," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "Let’s drink. You deserve it."

He poured the wine and handed a cup to him. Han Xin stared at the wine, his heart aching. He couldn’t stop thinking about Yu Yu, how she drank like a fish with no care in the world. It made sense now that she could drink that much without passing out because she was actually a he. He rubbed his face in frustration, wiping away tears before his cousin could see.

Han Zhan noticed his reddened eyes and sighed. He had never seen his cousin like this. Even at his father’s funeral, the thirteen-year-old had maintained a stern expression throughout. He hadn’t broken down, but now he was visibly falling apart.

"Drink more," Han Zhan urged gently.

Han Xin took a deep breath and raised the cup to his lips, the wine burning his throat as he swallowed. The pain in his heart was far greater than any physical discomfort. As the night wore on, the two cousins sat in silence, the weight of their burdens shared but not lessened.

***

In the early morning, Madam Han was jolted awake by a commotion outside her courtyard. The mansion was in chaos, with servants rushing about and her attendant banging frantically on her door. She quickly donned her robe and opened the door, her voice sharp with irritation. "What is with all this commotion?"

The maidservant bowed deeply, her voice trembling. "Madam, the mansion is surrounded by palace guards. They say the general must come with them."

Madam Han’s eyes flashed with anger as she strode towards the reception hall. "Why are you making such a ruckus in the general’s mansion? How audacious of you!" she yelled.

The leader of the guards stepped forward, his expression stern but respectful. "Madam, please do not make trouble. We are here by the order of the emperor to bring your son to the palace."

Madam Han’s fury was insurmountable. Her son had sacrificed a lot for the royal family only for them to treat him like this. Even if he had done something wrong they could have summoned him discreetly but no, they had to make a spectacle of him. "Why not summon him normally? Why march in here as if you came to arrest a criminal?"

At that moment, Han Xin, who had just woken up, entered the reception hall with Han Zhan trailing behind him. The leader of the guards addressed him directly. "General, the emperor demands your presence."

Han Xin nodded, his face calm and composed. He turned to his mother. "I will be right back. Don’t worry too

much."

Madam Han’s chest heaved with restrained anger, but she managed to keep her composure. She whispered fiercely, "If he gives you trouble, tell me. He owes me for my father’s sacrifice." She was like a mother hen protecting her chick. If she could march into that palace and slap the emperor, she would.

Han Xin nodded, then turned to Han Zhan. "Take care of the family. If anything, follow the plan," he whispered.

Han Zhan, though worried, knew this was not the time to panic. He watched as Han Xin left with the guards. He knew things wouldn’t escalate to the point of their family having to flee but he couldn’t help but be anxious.

As the carriage pulled away from the mansion, Han Xin noticed an entire group of palace guards standing at attention outside, treating him as if he were a criminal. There was a reason they hadn’t asked his soldiers to bring him to the palace—his subordinates would have warned him.

Onlookers gathered outside, whispering and wondering what was happening. Among the crowd, a man wearing a cloak observed the scene intently. As the carriage moved towards the palace, the cloaked figure melted into the shadows, following discreetly.

The tension in the air was thick as the carriage approached the palace gates. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something monumental was about to unfold. He reached the palace and entered the grand reception hall, his steps echoing off the marble floors.

The prime ministers were already assembled, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity. The current empress sat beside the emperor, her expression unreadable. As Han Xin approached, the emperor picked up a tablet and hurled it at him, the object shattering at his feet.

"Kneel!" the emperor demanded, his voice thunderous.